Since September is National Child Passenger Safety Month AND Baby Safety Month, this is the perfect time to make sure your children and grandchildren are riding safely in the family car. Current statistics show that 80% of all child seats are improperly installed and used in Florida. In addition, thousands of babies, toddlers, and young children ride completely unrestrained - no child seat, no booster, no seat belt. Last year in Florida, the number of children killed in traffic crashes who were riding unrestrained increased to 72%, up from 57% in 2005. Despite the fact that Florida's Child Restraint Law (Ch. 316.613, F.S.) requires children to ride properly restrained, many children are not protected because they are not in child seats or seat belts. Tragically, hundreds of unprotected children are seriously injured or killed in traffic crashes every year in our state.

To help parents, grandparents, and caregivers ensure children of all ages are better protected in vehicles on our roadways, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Federal experts in child passenger safety, recommend the following guidelines:

For a list of guidelines to help keep your child safe in the car, please visit NHTSA’s website at
www.nhtsa.dot.gov

Please join the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Transportation Safety Office, and hundreds of other organizations in recognizing September as the month to focus on the safety of our children who travel Florida’s roadways, and to make a firm commitment to help protect our state’s most vulnerable citizens.

For information about the Florida Highway Patrol’s Award Winning Occupant Protection & Child Passenger Safety Program; to find out how you or someone you know can get their child’s car seat checked for proper installation; or to find out how you can get a child seat if you cannot afford to purchase one for your child, please visit www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/CPS, email the program coordinator at kimjones@flhsmv.gov, or call Kim Jones at (850) 617-2379.